What is PageRank?

PageRank is what Google uses to determine the importance of a web page. It's one of many factors used to determine which pages appear in search results.

The History of PageRank
PageRank was developed by Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin at Stanford. At the time that Page and Brin met, search engines typically linked to pages that had the highest keyword density, which meant people could game the system by repeating the same phrase over and over to attract higher search page results.

PageRank is patented by Stanford, and the name PageRank likely comes from Larry Page.

What Does PageRank Measure?
PageRank measure's a web page's importance.

Page and Brin's theory is that the most important pages on the Internet are the pages with the most links leading to them. PageRank thinks of links as votes, where a page linking to another page is casting a vote.

This makes sense, because people do tend to link to relevant content, and pages with more links to them are usually better resources than pages that nobody links.

PageRank doesn't stop there. It also looks at the importance of the page that contains the link. Pages with higher PageRank have more weight in "voting" with their links than pages with lower PageRank. It also looks at the number of links on the page casting the "vote." Pages with more links have less weight.

This also makes a certain amount of sense. Pages that are important are probably better authorities in leading web surfers to better sources, and pages that have more links are likely to be less discriminating on where they're linking.


How Important Is PageRank?
PageRank is one of many factors that determines where your web page appears in search result ranking, but if all other factors are equal, PageRank can have significant impact on your Google rankings.

Are There Flaws in PageRank?
There are certainly flaws in PageRank. Now that people know the secrets to obtaining a higher PageRank, the data can be manipulated. Google Bombs are a classic example of PageRank manipulation.

"Link farming" is another method people attempt to use manipulate PageRank. Link farming is the practice of linking without thought of the relevance of the pages being linked, and it is often automated. If you've ever run into a web page that was nothing but a collection of random links to other websites, you may have run into a link farm.

Google has adapted their calculations to filter off possible link farms. This is one reason why submitting your website to directories with low or no PageRank may be a bad idea.

If you find your website linked in a link farm, don't panic. In most cases this has no effect at all on your ranking. You can't control who links to you, anyway. Just don't link back to link farms and don't submit your site to them intentionally.


How Can I See PageRank?
PageRank is measured on a scale of one to ten and assigned to individual pages within a website, not the entire website. To find the PageRank of a page, use Google Toolbar. Very few pages have a PageRank of 10, especially as the number of pages on the Internet increases.


How Can I Increase My PageRank?
If you'd like to increase your PageRank, you need to have "back-links," or other people linking to your website. You can trade links with other people, but make sure you only trade relevant links, and make sure you're not trading links with a link farm. You can register your website with directories, such as the Open Directory Project, but use directories with high PageRank whenever possible.

As you build web pages within your website, you can create some of your own back-links by linking to relevant pages within your own website. This is a technique you may notice on this website. However, remember that the number of links you create counts into the equation. Don't overdo it.

The best way to increase your PageRank is to have quality content that other people want to link.

source: about.com

define : bulwark, cache, callous

bulwark - n. something used as a defense, a strong protection

The 1986 Philippine Edsa Revolution showed the Filipino people's courage, they used their bodies as bulwarks against the army's invading tanks.

cache - n (cash) a hiding place, something hidden in a secret place

The dictators then thought that there was a money cache somewhere funding this rally.

callous - adj. unfeeling and insensitive

The peaceful confrontation between the army and the people showed that the army was not callous as it was initially thought to be.

define: blanch, blithe, broach

blanch - v. turn pale

Grace was so surprised at Mark's marriage proposal that she blanched.

blithe - adj. happily, light hearted, joyful

Deep in her own mind, she had blithely denied the possibility of him and her.

broach - v. to open up a subject for discussion

That was why she was genuinely shocked when he broached the subject of marriage.

define:begrudge, benediction, benign

begrudge - adj. to envy another's possessions, to concede reluctantly

Her husband does not begrudge her going out with friends, as long as she comes home within a reasonable time.

benediction - n. a blessing, a good wish

Her husband's arrival in her life is such a benediction on her part.

benign - adj. gentle, not harmful, kind

Allison knows that the curfew set by her husband is benign, and meant only to protect her.

define : definitive, infinitesmal, finite

Definitive – adj. authoritative and final; specifying perfectly or precisely

The scientist had definitive answers to the grade school students interviewing him about his latest invention.

Infinitesimal – adj. extremely or immeasurably small.

The chances of us hooking up, is so infinitesimal that you should really consider giving up right now.

Finite – adj. having definite limits.

Though my love and care for you is infinite, my tolerance for your physical and emotional abuse is definitely finite, and I’ve had enough. Goodbye!

define :: allude, collusion, ludicrous, prelude

Allude – n. to refer broadly or indirectly

My grandmother loved to allude to her journey from rags to riches, hoping that we would learn from her past.

Collusion – n. a secret agreement or conspiracy for an illegal or deceptive pupose.

The company lost a couple of millions due to the collusion between the cashier and the accountant.

Ludicrous – adj laughable because of clear absurdity, falseness or foolishness.

During the hearing, the judge was shocked at the ludicrous answers that the defendant gave.

Prelude – n. a performance, action, event or piece of music that precedes and prepares for the more important thing that follows.

The children sang Christmas carols as a prelude to the grand chorale’s main performance.

define : aggrandize, allusion, altruistic

aggrandize v. to make great

Many politicians' wealth are aggrandized during their stay in office.


allusion n. indirect reference

My friend's shoe fetish is often called imeldific which is an allusion to Imelda Marcos and her 300 pairs of shoes.

altruistic adj. unselfish concern with the welfare of others

Trying times often bring out the altruistic side of people.

Define : aesthetic, affinity, agenda

in writing good blogs, it is important to widen your vocabulary, this way you don't use the same words over and over again. start out with these...

aesthetic - adj. concerned with or appreciative of beauty

The problem with society nowadays is that many are concerned merely about aesthetics and not about what's inside a person.

affinity - n. sympathy, attraction, kinship

Some successful people feel an affinity with the members of impoverished communities, they are reminded of what they were like before they were able to reach their dreams.

agenda - n. program, things to be done

The government's agenda is growing longer everyday, now if only the government officials can address them all.

define : abysmal, acquise, advocate

in writing good blogs, it is important to widen your vocabulary, this way you don't use the same words over and over again. start out with these...

abysmal - adj. extremely wretched, bottomless

The state of the Philippine's public education system is absolutely abysmal.


acquisce - v. to comply passively, to give in.

The problem is that many Filipinos have already acquisced to their dire state.


advocate - v. to support or be in favor of

Thankfully, there are still a few good men, those that advocate the improvement of the education system.

Define: abdicate, abridge & absolve

in writing good blogs, it is important to widen your vocabulary, this way you don't use the same words over and over again. start out with these...

abdicate - v. to step down from a position of power

The wicked king refused to abdicate his power in favor of his son who is more loved by the village people.


abridge - v. to shorten, condense or lessen in length

The king prepared an elaborate speech in front of the wise old men to defend himself, but decided to deliver an abridged speech at the last minute.


absolve - v. to forgive or free from blame

The wise men absolved the wicked king from all his wrongdoings, as long as he steps down from his throne.